A month, really?! Where has it gone!

The kids are all in bed.  Two are asleep.  It's 7:57, and I should be making lunches for school tomorrow and doing LWB work.  However, I have this feeling drawing me to the blog - so I know that I must post, finally!  Yes, it has been one month since we arrived back in the US, and WOW, so much has happened/changed in the past month, and yet in some ways it feels like we just got home.

Tonight:  I was putting the kids to bed; the big kids were brushing their teeth and I was taking a rest on the floor (yes, I'm exhausted).  Aiden was playing with the noise machine and saw me get on the floor.  He immediately stopped what he was doing, crawled over to me, onto my stomach and chest and gave me a hug and snuggled in for me to kiss him.  OH. MY. GOODNESS!  How this warmed my heart...I started to tear up, am actually tearing up writing this and remembering.  Seriously, this is what it's all about, this is why I stay up hours upon hours every night with him, this is why I'll spend my days driving from one side of town to the other to ensure everyone goes to a school that is appropriate for them.  Those sweet moments showing unconditional love are just AMAZING!  I can't tell you enough how this made my day - probably my week!

This week:  We've been to orientation for Tyler and Brooke to start school.  Brooke will be in a M,W, F 3 year old class (9 - 12:45).  She is so excited, and was one of the only children who did not cry when I left her during orientation.  She has one of Tyler's teachers from last year, which is great as she already knows who this teacher is, already knows the classroom, etc.  I am so excited for her!  Tyler is starting VPK, which for us is M, W, F (9-3).  I am really excited for him, as some of his sweet friends from last year are in his class again, he's in the same building as last year, knows many of the teachers, etc.  He's in his element at school, and I know he will do wonderfully!  I am sad, however, tonight, thinking of him being in school from 9 - 3.  What a long time for mommy to be away from her big boy three days a week.  You'd think I'd be dancing for joy, and I'm sure a part of me is, but I'm sad too...I know, I know, I'll get over it! :-)

This month:  Wow, I mean seriously, where do I start?  The day after we got home Matt went back to his normal work routine - usually that means he's gone 2 - 4 nights per week. Every once in a while we get lucky and it's less, and sometimes he's away for the entire week.  It was an adjustment getting use to having three kids to take care of all day/night by myself, but I'm doing well and the big kids are really helpful.  Aiden has been doing wonderfully, except for sleep.  Isn't that the Kramer way!?  But seriously, the poor kids appears to have sleep apnea, and wakes up gasping for breath sometimes. It's frightening!  Most times he wakes up (we think because of the apnea) and just stays awake for hours and hours.  Slowly over time I'm starting to get him to go back to sleep, but in the beginning there were nights where he woke at midnight and NEVER went back to bed!  UGH!

We're having Aiden's adenoids/tonsils tested (swallow test tomorrow - a barium drink, yuk) and perhaps removed, which very likely is the cause of the sleep apnea, so while we know that is a very painful and rough road, we know that it's the best thing for Aiden if it is choking him in his sleep.  This testing will determine how we move forward for all the tests that we need to care for Aiden's ears - tests to find out if we can do cochlear implants, fittings for hearing aids, etc.  So, all of that is on hold until we get this resolved.  I'll keep you posted. (Note: you must wear hearing aids for 3 months before you can get cochlear implants, even if they do no good, it's an FDA regulation).

So, other than the sleep, Aiden is doing great!  While he came home not being able to crawl, having no clue what to do with toys, etc. he is now crawling all around, choosing toys to play with, laughing, smiling, rolling a ball, interacting with his brother/sister, pooping on the potty (!!!!), responding to some basic signs (sit down, come eat) and just loving life.  It's almost like a different child from the one we first met who slept 20 hours per day - it's absolutely miraculous to see first hand the difference that love and attention can make in a child's life.  Seriously, it's a miracle that Aiden has come so far in such a short period of time!  God is so good!!

Below are some photos from this past month.  They include some of the other highlights that I have not mentioned, such as Tyler starting soccer (tiny tots in the front of our neighborhood), etc.  I hope you enjoy and promise to try to blog again soon (sooner than a month at least).

Having a blast playing soccer.

Watching brother play....and eating some sand and grass, of course!

Getting ready to ride my "big girl" bike.  Yes, mommy does make me wear a helmet (don't worry).

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Hanging out at home.